The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-09-02
THE DUKE OF MARLBOROUGH.
Something About the Englishman Known as
tho ''Prince Rupert of the Divorce Court"

Something About the Englishman Known as
tho "Prince Rupert of the Divorce Court"
Newport r. ID Special
The visit here of the Duke of Marlborough.
who arrived yesterday afternoon, could not have
been timed more opportunely by that noblemau
If be desired to see the resort at its best The
concluding days of the tennis tournament aud
.ne coaching parade, following the notable en-
tertainments of last week. have filled the place
to repletlon with prominent society people. The
coming OF so noted parsonage the
Duke has produced a ripple of curiosity
on the tide of gayety, for there has been much
natural speculation to how the leaders of So
ciety in America here assem- bled would receive
an En- glish nobleman whose career has been 80
notorious Of late years. Immediately upon his
arrival here yesterday the Duke driven to
the Ocean House, where he registered. 1t was
reported that many cottagers had called upon
him. but inquiry proved that Mrs. Paran Stevens
the only one of the summer residents who
had done At this call Mrs. Stevens invited
the Duke to become her guest at Marietta Villa
an invitation which he promptly accepted.
The Duke Of Marlborough, otherwise known
as the Prince Rupert of the Divorce Court" on
fair danes whose reputation he helped to
nish. would have made far greater mark in
political life than his younger brother, Lord
Randolph Churchill, if his name had not unfor-
tunately been connected with several social
scandals which have outraged the notions OF
responsibility and propriety of the English
middle classes A singulariy well-read man he
has travelled extensively in every quarter of the
globe and his ideas are of So enlightened nature
that they err perhaps In being almost too
broad Although on excellent terms with
his brother Randolph, he differs strongly
from him politically and is as pro-
nounced Radical a who is German
Prince and an English Duke, with an hereditary
pension of $25, 600 per annum. can well be. His
popular theories on the subject of bi netsllism,
franchise and tenure ofland have attrated good
deal of attention. and had not their source been
considered as tainted by the respectable British
bourgeois there is no doubt that the Duke would
have become the leader ofsa important party.
Born in 1874 he served for short time in the
Horse Guards, and then painting the city
of London most brilliant vermillion
hue, he started off visit to India.
splendid shot and fine sportsman
in every sense of the word, his peregrinations
extended to Cashmere, where he became ex-
ceedingly intimate with the Maharajah. II is
sad to relate that he started off that respecta-
BILE Oriental potentate on a course of the widest
dissipation, which resulted In repeated attacks
of celirium treruens and a world of anxiety and
trouble to the Anglo-Indian officials who shud-
der at the very name Of the Duke. After visit
ing Persia. China and other foreign lands in
turn, he returned homo and married one of the
beautiful daughters of the late Duke of Aber-
corn, who occupies such a prominent place in
Lord Beaconfeld's well-known novel Lothian
His conduct to his long suffering and charm
ing wife was the reverse of commendable; for.
notwithstanding the fact that she forgave him
for having been the principal cause of the di-
vorce between the late Earl of Kvlesford and
the latters wife. be continued the of his
ways, and finally forced her in 1888 to obtain a
divorce from him. The Queen expressed the ut
most sympathy for the Marchoness Of Bland
ford for her husband only succeeded to the title
n few months later, and when the late Duke
died her Majesty refused to permit the present
bearer of the title to appear in person at Wind
Castle for the purpose of delivering up to the
sovereign his fathers insignia of the Order of
the Carter as is customary in such cases.
The Dukes name again appeared before the
public in connection with Lady Aylesford's ILL
advised lawsuit TO prove her son by the Duke of
Marlborough heir to her late husbands title, and
more recently still he figured correspondent
in the Colin Campbell divorce case.
John Churchill. the first Duke of Marlborough,
died without male issue, and the titles and
estates were inherited in the first place by his
eldest daughter. Lady Godolphin. and her
death by the son of his second daughter, who
had married Charles Spencer, Earl of Sunder-
land, from whom the present duke descends
by direct line. The palace of Benheim,
at Woodstock, Oxfordshire which
presented to the first duke by the nation
as a reward for his brilliant victories on the con-
tinent, is a magnificent place. but costs good
deal TO keep up. The present Duke is far from
rich, but has added somewhat to tho resources
of the entaied estate by selling, last year, for
an enormous sum, some of the magnificent Ru-
bens and Vandykes which figured in the Blen-
helm galleries. The Duke has three daughterS
and son, who is now fifteen years DID, and who
will succeed to his fathers title.
It may be added that there at the present
time two Duchesses of Marlborough in existence
the mother and grandmother of the
present peer.